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| Question : |
My 9-year-old daughter ingested a quarter
(we don't know when), which was detected in her stomach on
xray 11/23. The ER doc (far from our home) told us to wait
3-5 days, examining each bowel movement, to see if it has
passed. If not, he said, have her pediatrician do another
xray, and possibly go into her stomach to get it out. Yesterday
(day #4, the 26th), I called the pediatrician. The nurse there
said to wait not 3-5 days, but a week, and said they would
not do another xray, and probably NOT remove the quarter unless
she has stomach pain. I don't know who to believe. I talked
to someone at a pediatric gastroenterologist's office at
a local major hospital who would give me no advice on the
phone. Still no quarter, and Now what??? Can you help? Thanks!
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Answer |
Any foreign body that is ingested, if it reaches the stomach usually passes out on its own without requiring any intervention. Your doctor correctly advised you to wait for 3-4 days, maybe even a week to see if it passes in the stools. If not, a repeat X ray would be required to know the position of the coin, whether it has moved or not. Any foreign body that is less than 2cm wide and less than 7 cm long usually passes out in the stools |
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